Spinach fried tofu is a traditional vegetarian dish in Chinese cuisine, but some scholars currently believe that spinach and tofu cannot be eaten together.

Spinach is known as the "King of Vegetables" and contains more vitamins and minerals. Each 100 grams contains 2.4 grams of protein, 27 grams of carbohydrates, 72 mg of calcium, 53 mg of phosphorus, and 1.8 mg of iron. , carotene 3.87 mg, and ascorbic acid 39 mg. The carotene content is several times that of cabbage, and it is easily absorbed and utilized by the human body. The iron content in spinach is also very high, and the absorption rate can reach 50%, which is beneficial to patients with anemia. Tofu is known as "plant meat" and contains high-quality protein. It can replace animal meat to a certain extent. It is added with brine during processing and becomes a good source of calcium. Like milk, it has become a calcium supplement for Chinese people. The most commonly used food, but because the oxalic acid contained in spinach can combine with calcium to form insoluble calcium salts, which affects the absorption and utilization of calcium, thereby reducing the nutritional effectiveness of calcium, some scholars have concluded that spinach and tofu cannot be eaten together. point of view.

Since spinach is also rich in calcium and its oxalic acid content is limited, tofu contains a large amount of calcium, which can neutralize part of the oxalic acid and protect the calcium in other foods. In addition, improving cooking methods, such as blanch spinach in boiling water first so that part of the oxalic acid dissolves in the water, filter out the water and then stir-fry with tofu, can not only increase the nutritional effect, but also make the dish more tender. Therefore, for your nutrition and health, feel free to eat spinach stir-fried tofu. (Chen Wei, Department of Nutrition, Peking Union Medical College Hospital)

Reference: /food/2004-08/02/content_1691509.htm

Spinach and tofu soup is a traditional home-cooked soup. It is light and refreshing and is deeply loved by people. However, modern medical research shows that spinach and tofu should not be eaten at the same time. Although there has been no such dietary case, sometimes the harm is potential and cannot be measured in a visible way.

[Keywords]

Tofu is highly nutritious, high in inorganic salt, low in fat and low in calories. Its rich protein is beneficial to strengthening the body and increasing satiety, and is suitable for vegetarians. It can be eaten with simple obese people; it can also reduce the concentration of lead in human blood; tofu contains a large amount of estrogen, which can also help women raise their buttocks and overcome menopausal symptoms.

Spinach contains 1.6 to 2.9 mg of iron per 100 grams, 2.4 grams of protein (1 pound of spinach is equivalent to the protein content of 2 eggs), 3 mg of vitamin A (more than carrots), 0.06 mg of B1, and 0.06 mg of B2. 0.16 mg, C 31.4 mg (3 times that of tomatoes). Its red roots contain vitamin K, which is lacking in ordinary fruits and vegetables, and helps prevent bleeding tendencies in the skin and internal organs. Spinach is also rich in enzymes. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that spinach is sweet and cool in nature, which is good for cleaning up heat and toxins in the human gastrointestinal tract. It can nourish blood, stop bleeding, astringe yin, and moisturize dryness. Therefore, it can prevent and treat constipation and make people look radiant. Foreign antioxidant tests show that women eating about 30 grams of fresh raw spinach are better than eating 1.25 grams of vitamin C and drinking 270 grams of red wine. Spinach is praised as one of the "top ten beauty and skin-beautifying foods."

[Nutritional Analysis]

Spinach is rich in nutrients and is known as the "King of Vegetables", but spinach contains a lot of oxalic acid (about 300 mg of oxalic acid per 100 grams of spinach) . Tofu contains a lot of magnesium chloride and calcium sulfate. If both enter the human body at the same time, they will generate insoluble calcium oxalate, which will not only cause calcium loss, but may also be deposited into stones. So it’s best not to eat spinach and tofu together. In fact, spinach does not have the highest iron content, nor can it replenish blood, because only 10% of the iron in spinach is absorbed in the intestines, and the other 90% is combined with oxalic acid to form insoluble substances, which is not only difficult to absorb, but also affects the body's ability to absorb iron. It is absorbed and utilized, so it is not advisable to eat too much spinach at one time.

[Correct combination]

When the ratio of calcium and oxalic acid is 1:2, stones are most likely to form. Stones can be prevented if this ratio is violated through food combinations, such as spinach with calcium-rich sesame seeds, milk or fish.

In nutrition, the nutritional value of food protein depends on the type, quantity and mutual ratio of the amino acids that make up the protein. Although tofu has a high protein content, its nutritional value is greatly reduced due to its low content of methionine (one of the essential amino acids for the human body). But other methionine-rich animal and plant foods can be cooked together with tofu, such as adding various types of minced meat to tofu, or wrapping tofu with eggs and frying.

Although tofu is rich in calcium, , but if you eat tofu alone, the body's absorption and utilization rate of calcium is quite low. If tofu is cooked with foods high in vitamin D, the body's absorption rate of calcium can be increased by more than 20 times. For example, fish head roasted tofu is not only light and delicious, but also rich in nutrients.

Tofu also contains a variety of saponins, which can prevent the production of lipid peroxide, inhibit fat absorption and promote its decomposition; however, saponins can promote the excretion of iodine and easily cause iodine deficiency. Therefore, those who regularly eat tofu should increase their iodine intake appropriately. Kelp is rich in iodine, so if you eat tofu and kelp together, you can get the best of both worlds.